System and method for developing and selecting a customized wellness plan

ABSTRACT

A System and Method for Developing a Customized Wellness Plan for measuring a user&#39;s wellness by determining a user&#39;s physiological age. The system and method also help a user to learn about personalized wellness options, where the wellness options have been chosen for the user based upon wellness factors input by the user, additional constraints input by the user and the most recently available information relating to the health sciences. The user can select one or more options, and determine the potential effect implementing the options could have on the user&#39;s physiological age over the short or long term. In this fashion, the user can continue selecting various groups of alternatives until he or she has determined the group of options that the user would like to implement as a wellness plan. The user can then obtain further information regarding the chosen wellness plan. The system and method also provide ways whereby a user can monitor their progress toward improving wellness, wherein this progress can be positive or negative.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a means for evaluating consequences of voluntary life style choices, habits, disease transitions, and genetic factors. In particular, this invention is a method and apparatus, that can (1) combine various health risk and health enhancing factors to determine a user's current physiological age; (2) interactively assist, motivate, and counsel the user in choosing health behavior interventions to move a user from a current relative risk level to a preferred lower level of risk; and (3) provide the user with a means of measuring his or her progress toward improved wellness.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In at least partial response to the spiraling costs of health care, a renewed emphasis has been placed on preventive medicine and wellness. Wellness programs in increasing numbers are being offered by government and private entities. This emphasis has resulted not only in a need for a means of measuring and monitoring wellness, but also for ways to encourage and counsel individuals to adopt healthy behaviors.

While a tremendous amount of high quality medical evidence has been published, it is time consuming and costly to access this information and to review it on a regular basis. Even if an individual has access to specialized medical computer resources, it takes considerable knowledge, time, and effort to interpret the published medical findings. This difficulty is particularly the case where findings in one medical publication need to be interpreted in light of another publication, or are contrary to previously published findings.

In addition, if individuals want to improve their wellness level, it is not always readily clear what the options are and which one or more are best for a specific person in their specific situation. Even if an appropriate plan is chosen, without constructive feedback as to the results of one's efforts, it is difficult for that person to remain motivated.

Health risk assessments are being used with increasing frequency as a means to assess an individual's personal health habits and risk factors; estimate the individual's future risk of death, illness, or otherwise reduced quality of life, and provide counseling as to means of reducing this risk. Generally these assessments take the form of mortality risk estimates and counseling phrases based upon relative risk. An example of such a phrase is, "if you adhere to an exercise program as prescribed by your doctor, your relative risk of dying from heart disease over your lifetime will be 0.43 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.41-0.455, and you will extend your useful life expectancy by 0.1 years." Such a statement is too abstract and/or remote in time for most people to respond to it effectively. To tell someone that they may lower their risk of dying from a disease in the coming year from 0.00016 to 0.00014 per year has even less relevance. Similarly, risk may be assessed in either a percent or "one in one thousand" format. Again, this assessment does not provide the level of information needed for an individual to be properly motivated toward implementing healthier behaviors. Further, being advised of the probability as to when one may die at a period of time in the remote future has little relevance to a younger person.

Other health risk assessment programs provide the user with a written evaluation based upon their answers to a questionnaire. This evaluation may include a health risk age, a list of recommendations, and the health risk age that could apply if the user follows the recommendations for a specified period of time. In these programs the user has little or no input in determining the recommendations. Most individuals will not follow such a list of recommendations because they do not take into account the individual's inclinations. In addition, the user has no way of determining the relative physiological effect of each item within the list of recommendations; thus, if they do not wish to incorporate the entire list of recommendations, they do not have the information needed to make an informed decision as to which item(s) to include.

The following non-interactive medical systems are generally directed toward diagnostic purposes, and are for use by medical professionals. These systems do not provide motivational factors for a patient to change to a healthier life style.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,130,881 to Haessler et al. discloses a medical diagnostic tool for health care professionals comprising a means for automated medical history taking. Haessler discloses the use of automated logic, wherein the questions asked are dependent on the patient's responses to prior questions.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,122 to Autschuler et al. discloses an interactive statistical system and method for predicting expert decisions. In practice, this system analyzes several input responses, by utilizing statistical analysis and preprogrammed expert opinions, to determine a diagnosis.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,374 to Roizen et al. discloses a device which is used to record patient history. Answers to a set of medical questions are used by the device to select medical or pre-operative tests.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,235,510 to Umata et al. discloses a picture archiving communication system that records and stores various digital image data. In use, a patient is examined by way of a medical imaging device. The image is digitized and thereafter stored in a database with other relevant patient attributes. At a later time, medical personnel retrieve the image and other attributes at a remote workstation.

A need exists for an interactive system that supplies users with an easily understandable measurement of their wellness, the know how to improve their wellness, a means of customizing a program for improving their wellness, and a means to monitor their progress to that end. This measurement and counseling must take place in a manner that motivates individuals to adopt healthy lifestyles without being so abstract that encouragement and monitoring are difficult. Such a system must be flexible, such that it can continue to be a useful tool for users as they change their lifestyle, proceed through their life cycle and have voluntary and involuntary life changes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system that counsels individuals in a meaningful way to adopt and maintain healthy behaviors.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system that uses individual behaviors and factors in a forward chaining reasoning mode to provide wellness options from which a user can select a wellness plan, and to encourage user participation in the wellness plan by providing feedback relating to calculated physiological age.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system that can assist the individual in a backward chaining reasoning mode to determine the potential decrease in physiological age that could occur if the user were to implement a chosen wellness plan.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system for collecting information from user(s) related to factors that affect their wellness, and for counseling the user(s) on healthy behaviors.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system that considers interactions between and among health risk and health enhancing factors when determining their combined effect upon a user's physiological age.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to consider the effect that multiple factors relating to voluntary choices, habits, environment, disease transitions and genetic predispositions may have on the user's physiological age, and to provide counseling to the user to assist in changing such factors.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to allow for the assessment of the effects of such multiple wellness factors as accident prone behaviors, age of death of parents, air pollution, alcohol, allergies, angioplasty, aspirin, asthma, blood pressure, body mass index, breakfast, coronary artery bypass graft, calcium, cigarette smoking, diabetes, dietary cholesterol, dietary fiber, driving while intoxicated, eating between meals, education level of spouse, education status, employment status, estrogen, forced expiratory volume in one second, firearms, first myocardial infarction, folate, functional status, garlic powder, genetic makeup, genetic risks, green tea, HDL cholesterol, heart rate, helmet use, immunizations, income, iron, job strain, liver disease, low back pain, lycopene, major life events, marital status, meat eating, coronary artery disease, medication compliance, medication use, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, occupation, parent's divorce, passive smoking exposure, pets, physical activities, renal disease, safety belt use, self reported health status, sleep, social contacts, stamina, strength, stress, stroke, suicide attempt, total cholesterol, traffic tickets, transfusions, vitamin A, B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, white blood cell count, weight changes, zinc, and weight cycling, among others in the calculation of physiological age and counseling of users.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to be able to consider additional factors and to update those existing factors as documentation becomes available.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide decision nodes within the present invention, thereby allowing the user to automatically skip unnecessary questions and reduce the length of the session.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to determine the composite relative risk associated with an individual's behavior through the use of a covariance model.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an integrated user operated system for measuring a user's physiological age, presenting options to improve wellness based upon the user's wellness factors and self-imposed constraints, and calculating the potential effects of option combinations selected by the user.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to generate a list of the user's good, average and problematic health conditions and habits, including recommendations and encouragement concerning those behaviors.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to allow a user to interact with the system of the present invention so that the user can obtain feedback as to how changes to life style and health habits will affect the user's physiological age.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a means whereby a user can determine the relative value of incorporating various wellness options.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a means whereby a user can monitor the effects that varying combinations of choices would have on his or her physiological age, and then choose the desired combination of choices as his or her wellness program.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to assist the user in designing and implementing a wellness program based on individuals needs, circumstances, and preferences.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to recommend various kinds of resources to aid the user in carrying out the course of action decided upon.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to furnish a list of questions that the user should ask his or her doctor as he or she progresses in the personalized wellness program.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a means for maintaining current and accurate information about the user, and to use that updated information to recalculate physiological age, to encourage the user to continue participation in a wellness program and to provided updated options for healthy actions to be taken by the user.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to detect and record changes in the user's physiological age over time and to provide guidance to the user regarding any changes and their impact thereon.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to graphically compare the user's current physiological age to both the user's previous physiological age results and the user's chronological age group at each time they complete the input portion of the present invention.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to output educational materials related to user selected wellness factors.

These and other objectives and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following disclosure.

The present invention is an interactive wellness system that uses a means for collecting information relating to a user's voluntary choices, habits, environment, disease transitions and genetic predispositions; a means for consistently measuring a user's wellness by determining his or her physiological age; a means for presenting the user with expert knowledge, know-how, and resources to improve his or her wellness, including presenting the user with wellness options; a means for allowing a user to determine the effects varying combinations of wellness options could have on his or her physiological age; a means for allowing the user to choose the combination of wellness options that he or she wishes to follow; a means for monitoring a user's progress toward improving wellness by measuring physiological age and a means for incorporating new medical data and new user data into the system.

It is further contemplated that the present invention is suitable for use in any situation in which a person's current state of wellness can be graded. Exemplary uses include insurance, corporate wellness programs, health care facilities, pre- and post- surgical facilities, sports and health clubs, weight management programs, smoke cessation programs, and preventive care programs.

In the insurance industry, health and life insurance premiums are calculated based on the applicant's age, sex, and habits such as smoking. Insurance concerns sometimes administer a questionnaire to collect data about pre-existing health conditions. The insurer can use this data to deny applicants coverage for some conditions. The system of the present invention supplies new statistics for calculating health and life insurance premiums. It collects information about exercise, diet, habits, health history and conditions, as well as other factors. The present invention uses this data to calculate the users' current wellness state, which can be used to stratify a pool of insurance applicants and policyholders according to degree of wellness. Insurance enterprises can use this stratification level data to calculate premiums based on wellness. As a result, applicants who maintain a higher state of wellness relative to other same age and gender applicants can receive lower premiums. Applicants with a lower wellness status can receive a reward (such as a reduced premium) for improving their state of wellness. The system of the present invention can process a large amount of input data and logic to calculate the users correct wellness stratification level, which is useful in this situation.

Corporate wellness programs support a range of volunteer activities to improve employee wellness, such as fitness centers, diet and nutrition classes, smoke cessation programs, screening interventions, and health education classes. While some wellness programs provide screening and counseling to help employees select appropriate activities, in the general case employees decide which activities they want to engage in without such screening and/or counseling.

The present invention complements either of these infrastructures by assisting the user in choosing exercise, diet, habit(s), and other types of wellness activities. The present invention stratifies users into graded levels of health using a substantial range of wellness factors. The system then evaluates this stratification data and compares it to curves of similar factors for specific age groups. The curves which are closest to the calculated factors for the individual are a meaningful measurement of the equivalent physiological age of the individual. The present invention also allows the user to input additional constraints to be used by the system in suggesting appropriate wellness activities. The user then considers varying combinations of recommended activities and chooses their desired wellness program. The system then provides choices available for improving physiological age, wherein these choices are specifically tailored to the individual user.

A sampling of the health care facilities that must collect a large amount of patient wellness data prior to making wellness recommendations includes primary care, preventive health nutrition, and geriatric. Physicians must review a great deal of high quality medical literature in conjunction with a patient's given data to recommend appropriate courses of action to maintain or improve the patient's condition. On a case-by-case basis, this data collection task is difficult and time-consuming. In the context of current trends to reduce costs, most physicians cannot afford to spend a lot of time collecting and reviewing data. Various guidelines offer an alternative solution. However, physicians still must collect a large amount of up-front data concerning a patient. Moreover, recently published guidelines are becoming more complex, requiring even more time to select guidelines which fit the patient's condition. The wellness measurement and wellness options systems of the present invention collect data directly from the patient. The physician can augment this data with test results pertaining to the patient, such as a patient's blood pressure, by using the system's input means. The wellness option(s) system then analyzes patient data according to guidelines to determine suitable courses of action.

Wellness measuring, wellness options, and wellness monitoring could also be used in the pre- and post- surgery facilities. Anesthesiologists and surgeons are rarely trained in the field of prevention. These systems can serve as an adjunct tool. For example, surgeons or anesthesiologists could show surgery patients, such as individuals undergoing arterial reconstruction, the effect of smoking on their physiological age--a powerful motivator at this critical period in a person's life. The wellness option(s) system could offer various courses of action to elevate the patient's state of wellness. The monitoring system could be used by the patient's primary care practice to track the patient's progress toward reaching an improved level of wellness.

The monitoring system of the present invention can be used in any situation where it is valuable to measure a person's progress toward reaching a different wellness state. For example, if the user decides to carry out a personal weight loss program, the user could record his or her weight over the weight loss period and chart progress made toward the weight loss goal. The monitoring system can collect the performance data, determine any changes in data, interact with the wellness system and report the results as a physiologic age change. The wellness measurement, suggested options, choice and monitoring systems of the present invention provide the means to meet the requirements of any situation requiring a measurement of wellness, user-specific recommendations, realistic and individually tailored user goals, and a technique to measure user progress toward reaching such goals.

The perception of success of most wellness activities is largely shaped by individual expectations and feelings. The interaction of the monitoring and measuring systems of the present invention provides a physiologic age measurement that can be used to calculate a single measurement of physiological age for a variety of wellness activities, thereby measuring the value of these activities. The measuring and recommendation systems interact to generate specific wellness options for the user, which often will increase the user's motivation to change behavior resulting in improved wellness. This measurement allows for setting specific wellness goals and measuring progress toward those goals, thereby providing motivation for the user to continue the program.

Once a person elects to carry out a wellness program, the system then interacts with the user to set short and long-term wellness goals. The present invention can elicit information about resource constraints to help users plan realistic wellness goals. Unlike general recommendations found in consumer books, magazines, or pamphlets, the present invention can make specific recommendations based on the user's state of wellness, and can also show how any set of combinations chosen by the user will affect his or her state of wellness.

For the sake of simplicity, the systems of the present invention will be illustrated using a personal wellness program as an example situation. The present invention is not limited to this particular embodiment, as it is contemplated that the systems of the present invention can be used in a wide range of other situations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 sets forth the opening interface processes of the present invention.

FIG. 2 depicts the opening page of the opening interface.

FIG. 3 sets forth the physiological age calculation overview.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a Personal Profile window.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a Personal Profile window.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a Personal Profile window.

FIG. 7 sets forth the steps required to determine an individual's physiological age.

FIG. 8 sets forth the standard model properties that must be calculated in determining a user's physiological age.

FIG. 9 depicts an absolute survival data set.

FIG. 10 exemplifies final curve model points (attributes) for two individuals.

FIG. 11 sets forth the steps required in determining composite relative risk.

FIG. 12 sets forth the steps involved in calculating the survival rate for a user's composite relative risk.

FIG. 13 depicts the process of determining physiological age through recursive calculations.

FIG. 14 is a graphical representation depicting the determination of physiological age.

FIG. 15 depicts an example of a window informing the user of his or her physiological age.

FIG. 16 depicts options available to the user upon entering physiological age navigation interface.

FIG. 17 further depicts the physiological age planner.

FIG. 18 shows an example of an age reduction plan window, without selected plan items.

FIG. 19 shows an example of an age reduction plan window, without selected plan items.

FIG. 20 shows an example of an age reduction plan window, with selected plan items.

FIG. 21 shows an example of an age reduction plan window, with selected plan items.

FIG. 22 shows an example of a plan report.

FIG. 23 shows an example of a plan report.

FIG. 24 shows an example of a plan report.

FIG. 25 shows an example of a plan report.

FIG. 26 shows an example of an educator window.

FIG. 27 shows an example of an educator window.

FIG. 28 shows an example of an educator window.

FIG. 29 shows an example of an educator window.

FIG. 30 shows an example of the physiological age factor effect calculation process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The system of the present invention includes a data processing means such as a client computer system that communicates with a server computer system. The client computer system can be of any type using any type of operating system. In a preferred embodiment, the client computer system is an IBM or IBM compatible type computer using an Intel 80-series or Pentium chip, and running an operating system such as Microsoft Windows. Also in this preferred embodiment, the server computer system uses an operating system such as Microsoft Windows NT. An alternative embodiment is a client computer system based on an Intel 80-series Pentium or Pentium Pro microprocessor, running Microsoft Windows 95, and a server computer system based on an Intel Pentium or Pentium Pro microprocessor, running Windows NT. In a preferred embodiment, the client computer system and server computer system communicate using NetBIOS protocol. The use of this system as an example is not meant to limit the present invention to such a processing means, as it is contemplated that the present invention is suitable for use with any standard computer, and a person of ordinary skill in the art can determine many other data processing systems suitable for use with the system of the present invention. Furthermore, additional embodiments of the present invention can be accessed through either an internet or intranet format or the present invention could easily be implemented in a stand alone workstation or PC.

The processing means includes an input means, such as a keyboard, mouse, pen pointer, touch screen, microphone, trackball, joystick and/or other input means known in the art and used to input information to a computer. The processing means also includes a presentation means for presenting the output data to a user, such as a display monitor, television, printer, and/or other visual output means; and an output means for producing voice, music, or other sound output to the user. The processing means further includes enough memory, connected to the input means, to store at least any input data accepted by the system. The system also comprises memory for storing and running instructions regarding the covariance model calculations of the present invention. The processing means also has a logic means sufficient to manipulate data and run the application. The logic means can be a microprocessor or other micro controller with memory. The logic means is connected to the input means and presentation means. The processing means can also include a hand-held processing means, particularly for use in running the client application. The hand-held processing means could include both input means and presentation means.

FIG. 1 sets forth the opening interface processes of the present invention. Upon accessing the present invention, the user 100 is presented with opening interface 102. At this point, the user can choose whether to learn more about the program through sales and demonstration 104, or begin the program 106. If the user is a current subscriber, the subscription is authenticated 108. If the user is not a current subscriber, the user is registered by initiating or renewing subscription 110, and payment is processed 112. After completion of subscription authentication 108 or subscription registration 110, the program proceeds to longevity metric high-level processes 114.

FIG. 2 depicts an opening page window of opening interface 102.

FIG. 3 sets forth the physiological age calculation overview of the present invention. The system first determines whether demographic and marketing information has been entered by the user 302. If this information has not been entered, an optional demographic and marketing questionnaire is administered 304. Once demographic and marketing information has been entered or bypassed, the system determines whether the personal profile is complete 306.

Personal profile characteristics include age, life style, habit/environment, medical and genetic information about a user. Personal profile characteristics are used to stratify a user into a correct relative probability group, personalize recommendations and educators, and provide information to system and business functions. In cases where the user knows the answer to a personal profile characteristic, he or she can directly enter the information. In some cases where a user does not know the answer to a personal profile characteristic, the user can answer a series of questions related to the personal profile characteristic in question, and the answer can be derived by the system; that is, the system can manipulate the input data into transformed data. For example, while the user might not know the number of kilocalories expended each week during exercise, by inputting the frequency, duration and intensity of the physical activities, the system can then determine the kilocalories expended using techniques known in the art. Personal profile characteristic business processes then perform operations on the user's answers to determine a personal profile characteristic value. Some business processes supported by personal profile characteristics are as follows: the personal profile characteristic can perform a calculation on user-entered numerical answers to derive a personal profile characteristic value; or the personal profile characteristic can evaluate user-entered data against conditional rules which point to an associated value. After the rules have been evaluated, the personal profile characteristic summarizes the values for each true rule into a composite score.

The personal profile questionnaire includes a health profile questionnaire. The health profile questionnaire is designed to review a large volume of information related to personal profile characteristics. It employs decision nodes to automatically skip unnecessary questions and to reduce the length of the session. After the user answers a question, the present invention evaluates a series of conditional rule(s) to select the next appropriate question. These rules are capable of evaluating the user's current answer, previous answers, demographic data, and the current time/date. For example, if the user is male, pregnancy questions are skipped.

On subsequent uses, the health profile questionnaire is used to collect performance data related to the combination of recommendations that the user has chosen to adopt as their wellness plan. To update information about factors not associated with a current plan, the user can select and enter information about them at any time.

The health profile questionnaire is used to assess a user's relative wellness for a set of relative risk factors. Each factor is associated with a series of relative probabilities that a particular person will live for a period of time. Information from the health profile questionnaire is then used to determine the user's relative risk stratification level. The relative risk factors can relate to voluntary life style choices, habit, environment, disease transitions or genetic predispositions. Examples of factors include: accident prone behaviors, age of death of parents, air pollution, alcohol, allergies, angioplasty, aspirin, asthma, blood pressure, body mass index, breakfast, coronary artery bypass graph, calcium, cigarette smoking, diabetes, dietary cholesterol, dietary fiber, driving while intoxicated, eating between meals, education level of spouse, education status, employment status, estrogen, forced expiratory volume in one second, firearms, first myocardial infarction, folate, functional status, garlic powder, genetic makeup, genetic risks, green tea, HDL cholesterol, heart rate, helmet use, immunizations, income, iron, job strain, liver disease, low back pain, lycopene, major life events, marital status, meat eating, coronary artery disease, medication compliance, medication use, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, occupation, parent's divorce, passive smoking exposure, pets, physical activities, renal disease, safety belt use, self reported health status, sleep, social contacts, stamina, strength, stress, stroke, suicide attempt, total cholesterol, traffic tickets, transfusions, vitamin A, B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, white blood cell count, weight changes, zinc, and weight cycling, among others.

Relative risk is the ratio of the occurrence of death in people with an attribute to the incidence in people without an attribute. Relative risk does not provide information about the magnitude of absolute risk; that is, how many people have the attribute and therefore are at risk of death. For example, even if the relative risk is large, the size of the absolute risk of death is small if the attribute is rare. Relative risk does convey information about the strength of the association between the attribute and mortality. Assuming 1.00 as the baseline, the higher the deviation of the relative risk from the baseline, the more the attribute is a cause (or marker) of mortality. Conversely, the lower the deviation, the less the attribute is a cause (or marker) of mortality. Attributes with relative risks above the baseline are considered causes (or markers) of mortality. Attributes with relative risks less than 1.00 are treated as beneficial. For example: the mortality rate from lung cancer in cigarette smokers is 0.96 per 1,000 people/year, while the mortality rate from lung cancer in nonsmokers is 0.07 per 1,000 people/year. The relative risk is equal to 0.96 divided by 0.07, which is 13.7. Thus, a smoker is 13.7 times more likely to die in the next ten years than is a non-smoker.

The medical and health literature widely report their results in terms of relative risk. For example, the mean of vitamin C supplement use is 140 mg/day. Where the supplemental use of vitamin C is in the range of 1-159, the relative risk is 1.00; where the supplemental use of vitamin C is in the range of 160-599 the relative risk is 0.93; and where the supplemental use of vitamin C is in the range of 600 or more, the relative risk is 0.90.

In a minority of studies, the baseline group is not defined as the mean group. In the prior example, the baseline group is defined as the mean since the mean 140 mg/day is in the range 0 to 159 mg/day. Some studies contrast the optimal and worst populations to show a higher effect than if the optimal and mean populations were compared. Other studies use other baselines. The use of baselines other than the mean is a barrier when adjusting the mortality index (assumed to be the mean) by a mortality effect of an attribute which does not use the mean as a standard. Therefore, in the preferred embodiment, relative risks are re-calibrated using the mean population.

Some studies define discrete populations. Using the example above as an illustration, the study authors may have defined the populations as 0, 160 and 600. Therefore, a user's answer of 140 would lie between the first and second populations. In these kinds of cases, the population definitions are broadened to accommodate answers which lie between populations. In the preferred embodiment, discrete populations are redefined as the range (population.sub.(n), population.sub.(n+1)). Thus, the populations of the above example become 0-159, 160-599 and 600 or more.

Stratification rules are the mechanism used to determine which group and associated relative risk, fits the person's characteristics. Stratification rules use personal profile characteristic information which is calculated from the health profile questionnaire process. The associated stratification rules are processed to determine the correct relative risk classification. Where the question corresponding to the wellness factor is irrelevant the risk classification is set to 1.00. Where the response to the question corresponding to the wellness factor is uncertain the risk classification is set to the median or other predetermined level. Where the question corresponding to the wellness factor is not answered the risk classification is set to 1.00. Thus, test results are not invalidated where the user is unwilling or unable to answer every relevant question set forth in the health profile questionnaire. Table One sets forth examples of wellness factor scale information arrays.

                                      TABLE ONE     __________________________________________________________________________     Wellness Factor             Age                Optimal                    Optimal Name                           Average                               Average Name                                      Worst                                          Worst Name     __________________________________________________________________________     Vitamin C             45.00                44.00                    600 mg/day                           46.00                               140 mg/day                                      47.00                                          ≦35 mg/day     LDL Cholesterol             45.00                42.00                    <178 mg/dl                           45.00                               229 mg/dl                                      47.00                                          >244 mg/dl     Energy                    500-2000     Expenditure             45.00                41.00                    3500 kcals/day                           44.00                               Kcals/day                                      46.00                                          <500 kcals/day     Stop Smoking             45.00                33.00                    Non-smoker                           45.00                               Undefined                                      45.00                                          >2 packs/day     Body Mass             45.00                40.00                    20 to 22.99                           41.00                               23     46.00                                          >36     Index     __________________________________________________________________________

A composite survival probability, which is the product of all survival probabilities and an adjustment for covariance among the factors, is then calculated and used to adjust the average survival probability rate. The result is a survival probability rate adjusted for the user's level of wellness (users' survival probability rate.) This user-specific probability rate is then compared to the average survival probability rate of individuals of the same gender to determine the physiological age. Thus, the physiological age is equal to the chronologic age at which the user's survival probability rate equals the average survival probability rate of an individual of the same gender. Stated in another way, a user's physiological age is equal to the calender age of an average person of the same gender with a comparable risk stratification level. Thus, a user's physiological age is a metric; that is, it is a meaningful number used to measure wellness.

If the personal profile questionnaire is not complete, the personal profile questionnaire is administered 308. FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 depict examples of personal profile questionnaire windows. If the personal profile questionnaire was complete, the system proceeds to physiological age navigation interface 310.

Upon completing or updating the personal profile questionnaire, a graph depicting the user's physiological age is presented to the user 312. If the user wishes to update or monitor the questionnaire mode 314, the system proceeds to physiological age navigation interface 310. If the user does not wish to update or monitor the questionnaire mode 314, the system proceeds to planner recommendations 316.

FIG. 7 sets forth the steps required to determine an individual's physiological age. This requires calculating standard model properties 802, calculating composite relative risk 804, calculating survival for the user's composite relative risk 806, and calculating the user's physiological age 808.

FIG. 8 sets forth the standard model properties that must be calculated to determine a user's physiological age. This includes calculating lower and upper age limits 1002, calculating absolute standard population survival rates for lower and upper age limits 1004, and calculating the standard population curve properties 1006. The lower age limit (LAL) is equal to the chronological age minus fifteen, where the LAL range is equal to 5,80!. The upper age limit (UAL) is equal to the chronological age plus fifteen, where the UAL upper range is equal to 90!.

The absolute survival rate conveys the probability that a person will live for a period of time. The survival proportion explains the relationship between survival-mortality probabilities. If survival varies, the constant value tells how much mortality should change. To determine the physiological age, one must first generate the absolute survival data set for a standard population, generate the absolute mortality data set, determine the absolute survival proportion curve parameters for each relative risk population, generate the final survival curve model points (attribute) from beta1 to beta0, and then calculate the physiological age.

The absolute standard population survival rate for lower age limit (ASR_(SL)) thus equals: US Census Table times (Survival Rate for AGE=LAL). The absolute standard population survival rate for upper age limit (ASR_(UL)) thus equals: US Census Table times (Survival Rate for AGE=UAL).

The absolute survival data set for a standard population is generated by subtracting the absolute mortality rate from one, and repeating this process for each chronological age group until data is generated for all groups. In a preferred embodiment, the ten year U.S. Census mortality data is used. The absolute mortality rate is equal to the mortality risk at a given age. FIG. 9 depicts an absolute survival data set based upon U.S. Census data published in July 1991.

The absolute mortality data set (attribute) is determined by generating absolute mortality rate (attribute) data points for each five-year increment from 10 to 90. The absolute mortality rate (attribute) is equal to (one minus the stratified relative risk classification for the attribute) times (one minus the absolute mortality rate standard for a given 5 year age group).

The absolute survival proportion curve parameters are determined for each relative risk population by calculating the one year survival proportion change rate, (Beta1) and the base attribute (Beta0). The survival proportion change rate is determined by calculating the lower and upper survival portion. The lower survival portion is equal to the absolute survival rate at the lower limit age divided by the absolute mortality rate at the lower limit age, wherein the lower limit age is 20. Upper survival proportion is equal to the absolute survival rate at the upper limit age divided by the absolute mortality rate at the upper limit age, wherein the upper limit age is 90. The survival proportion difference is then determined by calculating the distance between the two points; that is, the lower survival proportion minus the upper survival proportion. The one year survival proportion change rate is thus the survival proportion difference divided by the difference between the upper limit age and the lower limit age.

The base attribute, (Beta0) (B0) is needed to determine the correct survival proportion value when age and Beta1 (B1) are multiplied. The base attribute is equal to the lower survival proportion minus the lower limit age survival proportion value. The lower limit age survival proportion value is determined by multiplying the lower limit age by the one year survival proportion change rate.

The final survival curve model points (attribute) from Beta1 (B1) and Beta0 (B0) natural log equations are generated by determining the survival proportion unadjusted, which is equal to Beta1 times the current chronological age, determining the survival proportion value adjusted, which is equal to Beta0 plus the survival proportion unadjusted, determining the non-linear survival value proportion adjusted value, which is equal to the exponential of the survival proportion adjusted, and determining the absolute survival rate, which is equal to the nonlinear survival value proportion adjusted value divided by the sum of the nonlinear survival value proportion adjusted value plus one. This process is repeated until survival rate data has been generated for all five year increments. The true and natural log formula derived absolute survival rates are then correlated.

FIG. 10 exemplifies final curve model points (attribute) for a smoker, age 69, who has smoked for 20-39 pack years (packs per year) and for a standard individual.

The standard population curve properties for Beta1 (β_(1S)) and Beta0 (β_(0S)) are thus determined as follows: ##EQU1##

FIG. 11 sets forth the steps required to determine the composite relative risk. This process involves processing the stratification rules for a physiological factor_(n) 1302, where "n" range is equal to (1, number of the last physiological factor); retrieving the relative risk value for the stratified population relating to the chosen factor 1304; retrieving the associated covariance value 1306; and calculating the composite relative risk 1308.

Covariance is a statistical measurement of how variables or factors affect each other. Most wellness factors covary. The covariance adjustment isolates the independent effect of each wellness factor. The results are then used to adjust the relative risk. Covariance adjustment includes calculating composite cardiovascular relative risk; constructing relative risk range for cancer and cardiovascular disease, calculating composite stress relative risk; and constructing relative risk range for stress. The covariance values are revised as wellness factors, and are added or removed as relative risk values are modified.

Calculating the composite relative risk involves the following considerations:

    If relative risk.sub.n >1.00=Composite RR.sub.(n-1) *((RR.sub.n -1.00)*(1.00-Covariance.sub.n))

    If relative risk.sub.n =1.00=1*Composite RR.sub.(n-1)

    If relative risk.sub.n <1.00=Composite RR.sub.(n-1) *((1.00-RR.sub.n)*(1.00-Covariance.sub.n))

It must then be determined whether the chosen physiological factor was the last to be processed 1310. If the answer is yes, then the composite relative risk determined is equal to the total composite relative risk 1312. If the answer is no 1314, then steps 1302 through 1310 are repeated until all physiological factors have been processed.

EXAMPLE

To calculate composite cancer and cardiovascular risk for a 50 year old male, based on the wellness factors alcohol, aspirin use, blood pressure, cholesterol and HDL, heart rate (assumes 3500 calories per week), lycopene, treadmill, vitamin C, vitamin E, folate, calcium, smoking, carnivores, dietary cholesterol, dietary diversity, dietary fiber, stress and health status, the following steps are performed: (1) abstract the optimal relative risks related to cancer and cardiovascular diseases for a 50 year old male from the pool of studies; (2) estimate the proportion of the optimal relative risk that prevents cancer and cardiovascular diseases, (3) proportion out the effects not related to cancer and cardiovascular diseases using the estimated proportions; (4) grade the quality of studies, recognizing that factors other than the studied factor could influence the mortality probability; (5) adjust the lists of related factors and modify them and (6) derive a secondary proportional adjustment to the relative risks that accounts for the quality of the studies and omission of important related factors. Table Two sets forth an example determination of composite cancer and cardiovascular risks for a 50 year old male taking into account the aforementioned factors.

                                      TABLE TWO     __________________________________________________________________________                  Proportional   First Proportional Second     Cancer &     Adjustment To  Relative                                       Adjustment Based                                                    Relative     Cardiovascular              Relative                  Isolate Factor's Effect on Cancer &                                 Risk  on Study Quality and                                                    Risk     Wellness Factors              Risk                  Cardiovascular Caused Mortality                                 Adjustment                                       Modified Related Factors                                                    Adjustment     __________________________________________________________________________     Alcohol  0.84                  100%           0.84  100%         0.84     Aspirin Use              0.96                  100%           0.96  100%         0.96     Blood Pressure              0.77                  100%           0.77  100%         0.77     Cholesterol & HDL              0.78                  100%           0.78  90%          0.80     Heart Rate (assumes              0.95                  100%           0.95  100%         0.95     3500 cals/wk)     Lycopene 1.00                  100%           1.00  50%          1.00     Treadmill              0.70                   70%           0.70  90%          0.73     Vitamin C              0.77                   90%           0.79  100%         0.79     Vitamin E              0.77                   90%           0.79  100%         0.79     Folate   0.77                   90%           0.79  100%         0.79     Calcium  1.00                   0%            0.00  100%         0.79     Smoking  0.77                  100%           0.80  90%          0.82     Carnivores              0.70                  100%           0.70  80%          0.61     Dietary Cholesterol              0.82                  100%           0.82  80%          0.61     Dietary Diversity              0.99                  100%           0.99  80%          0.61     Dietary Fiber              0.90                  100%           0.90  80%          0.61     Stress   0.27                   80%           0.41  60%          0.65     Health Status              0.59                   80%           0.67  60.sup.      0.80     __________________________________________________________________________

The relative risk mortality for a 50 year old male having the aforementioned wellness factors is 0.07. Therefore, the composite cancer and cardiovascular relative risk is 0.07, adjusted for effect on cancer and cardiovascular diseases, study quality rating and modified related factors list.

FIG. 12 sets forth steps involved in calculating the survival rate for a user's composite relative risk. This involves calculating the lower age limit of user survival rate 1402, calculating the upper age limit of user survival rate 1404, calculating Beta1 user (β_(1u)) 1406, calculating Beta0 user (β_(0u)) 1408, and calculating the user survival rate from user curve formula equation 1410.

Where U equals User, L equals Lower, S equals standard, and U' equals upper, the user absolute survival rate for the lower age limit is: (ASR_(UL))=ASR_(SL) ^(Composite) Relative Risk and the user absolute survival rate for the upper age limit is: (ASR_(UU'))=ASR_(SU') ^(Composite) Relative Risk.

The user survival curve properties are determined as follows: ##EQU2##

The current user survival rate is determined from the user curve formula equation as follows: ##EQU3##

The physiological age is calculated by determining f(x), f'(x) and then using a recursive calculation process described below.

F(x) is determined by: ##EQU4##

F(x) can also be expressed by: ##EQU5## where the non-linear survival proportion value is equal to the exponential of the survival proportion value adjusted; the survival proportion adjusted is equal to Beta0 (standard) plus the survival proportion value unadjusted; and the survival proportion unadjusted is equal to Beta1 (standard) times the physiological age iterative value, and the first physiological age value is the chronologic age. The standard survival rate is thus equal to the non-linear survival proportion value divided by the non-linear survival proportion value plus one. Therefore, the survival standard and attribute rate difference is equal to the standard survival rate minus the attribute survival rate, where the attribute survival rate value is obtained from the current five year range. Thus, f(x) is equal to the difference between the standard and attribute survival rate.

F'(x) is determined by: ##EQU6## F'(x) is thus limited to the slope of f(x); that is f'(x) will approach a limit as attribute and standard survival rate differences become smaller.

FIG. 13 depicts the process of determining physiological age through recursive calculations. This involves calculating an initial physiological age estimate 1602, calculating user and standard survival rate deviation 1604, calculating the slope of f(x) 1606, calculating estimate_(n) 1608, and determining whether estimate_(n) minus estimate.sub.(n-1) is less that 10⁻⁵ 1610. If it is less than 10⁻⁵ 1612, then the physiological age is equal to estimate_(n). If it is not equal to 10⁻⁵ 1614, then steps 1602 through 1610 are repeated.

The determination of physiological age is depicted in FIG. 18. The attribute survival rate is known and held constant. F(x) is the standard and attribute survival rate difference. The model successively approximates a standard survival rate for an iterative real number age until the f(x) slope is less than 10⁻⁶. As shown in FIG. 14, a 55 year old smoker who has smoked 20-39 pack years, (a pack a day for 20 to 39 years) has the same 0.6 probability often year survival as a 62.5 year old non-smoker who has never smoked. Therefore, the 55 year old individual who has smoked 20-39 pack years has a physiological age of 62.5 years.

FIG. 15 depicts an example of a window informing the user of his or her physiological age.

FIG. 16 depicts options available to the user upon entering physiological age navigation interface 310 as depicted in FIG. 3. From this interface, the user can choose to modify plan by proceeding to physiological age planner processes 2204; enter physiological age planner performance data by proceeding to monitor questionnaire mode 2208; update their personal profile questionnaire by proceeding to personal profile questionnaire 308; quit program by proceeding to physiological age ending interface 2214; view knowledge-based articles by proceeding to knowledge-based article selection high-level processes 2218; and view the physiological age graph by proceeding to physiological age graph display option 312.

FIG. 17 further depicts the physiological age planner. Upon entering planner recommendations 2402, the user can view and/or select varying planner recommendations. After obtaining this information, the user can choose from several options. The user can view or print the planner reports by proceeding to planner reports 2406; view the knowledge base by proceeding to physiological age educator 2410; save the plan by proceeding to physiological age navigation interface 310 or view the expected physiological age effect of the chosen planner selection by proceeding to the longevity metric 2416 and graph of physiological age 312.

FIGS. 18, and 19 show examples of physiological age planning windows, without selected plan items, such as would be seen by the user upon entering planner recommendations 2402. FIGS. 20, and 21 show examples of physiological age planning windows, with selected plan items.

FIGS. 22, 23, 24 and 25 show examples of planner reports such as would be presented to the user upon proceeding to planner reports 2206.

FIGS. 26, 27, 28 and 29 show examples of educator windows such as would be presented to the user upon proceeding to physiological age educator 2210.

FIG. 30 depicts the process of determining the effect of a planner selection upon the user's physiological age. This requires calculating the user's physiological age using all risk factors 5002, calculating the physiological age using all risk factors except for the studied risk factor 5004, and determining the deviation between these two results 5006. The deviation is equal to the physiological age reduction effect 5008.

The user is thus presented with a list of planner options that have been chosen by the system based upon input by the user. Using the list, the user can select one or more of the options to form a wellness plan. The user can then determine the physiological effect of implementing the chosen wellness plan. This process can be repeated such that the user can evaluate the effects of various wellness plans, and then decide upon their preferred plan. This allows a user to evaluate the benefits of varying combinations of planner options. In a preferred embodiment, the results that could be obtained by implementing a particular wellness plan are presented for a short term interval (such as three months) and a long term interval (such as three years).

Once a wellness plan has been chosen, the present invention allows the user to monitor their progress in improving wellness. In addition, the user can continue to use the program to change and/or augment their wellness plan.

Although the present invention has been described in detail for purpose of illustration, it is understood that such detail is solely for that purpose, and variations can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. The present invention is defined by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An interactive wellness system comprising:means for collecting information relating to a user's wellness factors; means responsive to the user's wellness factor information collecting means for determining the user's physiological age; means responsive to the user's wellness factor information collecting means for providing the user with wellness program options for improving the user's wellness; means for allowing the user to select from the wellness program options to form a wellness plan; and means for allowing the user to determine the effects the selected wellness plan has on the user's physiological age.
 2. An interactive wellness system according to claim 1, wherein the wellness program options are chosen in response to the information related to a user's wellness factors.
 3. An interactive wellness system according to claim 1, further comprising:means for allowing the user to select a preferred wellness plan.
 4. An interactive wellness system according to claim 3, further comprising:means responsive to the preferred wellness plan selection means for presenting a description of the chosen wellness plan.
 5. An interactive wellness system according to claim 4, further comprising:means responsive to the description presentation means for providing the user with further information related to various aspects of the chosen wellness plan.
 6. An interactive wellness system according to claim 1, wherein information related to the user's wellness factors comprises information related to the user's life style, habits, environment, and health, medical and genetic history.
 7. An interactive wellness system according to claim 1, further comprising:means for determination of the user's changing physiological age.
 8. An interactive wellness system according to claim 3, wherein the results of implementing a chosen wellness plan are presented to the user.
 9. An interactive wellness system according to claim 8, wherein the results of implementing a chosen wellness plan over a short term and the results of implementing a chosen wellness plan over a long term are presented to the user.
 10. An interactive wellness system according to claim 8, wherein the potential results of implementing a chosen wellness plan for a three month period and a three year period are presented to the user.
 11. An interactive wellness system according to claim 8, wherein the results presented are in the form of physiological age.
 12. An interactive wellness system according to claim 1, wherein the user's wellness factor information can be updated at a time after initial collection of the user's wellness factor information.
 13. An interactive wellness system according to claim 3, wherein the user can select a new preferred wellness plan after the initial selection of the preferred wellness plan.
 14. An interactive wellness system according to claim 1, wherein the means for collecting wellness factor information comprises decision nodes that allow the user to skip irrelevant or unnecessary questions.
 15. An interactive wellness system according to claim 1, further comprising:means for determining a composite relative risk responsive to the user's collected wellness factor information.
 16. An interactive wellness system according to claim 1, wherein means for collecting information related to a user's wellness factors further comprises:a questionnaire, wherein the questionnaire elicits information pertaining to a series of wellness factors.
 17. An interactive wellness system according to claim 16, wherein a user inputs wellness factor data in response to the questionnaire.
 18. An interactive wellness system according to claim 17, wherein the wellness factor data is stored in a data base table.
 19. An interactive wellness system according to claim 18, wherein the wellness factor data is manipulated into transformed data.
 20. An interactive wellness system according to claim 19, wherein the transformed data is stored in a database table for transformed data.
 21. An interactive wellness system according to claim 20, wherein a means for determining the user's physiological age further comprises:means for processing each of a user's wellness factors according to stratification rules; means responsive to the stratification rule processing for determining a relative risk value for each of the user's wellness factors; means for adjusting the wellness factor relative risk results for covariance; and means responsive to the user's wellness factor relative risk calculation for determining the user's equivalent survival rate and physiological age.
 22. A computer-implemented method of creating and selecting a wellness program comprising:inputting data relating to a user's wellness factors; storing the user's wellness factor data input data; manipulating the user's wellness factor data into transformed data; storing the transformed data, manipulating the transformed data to determine the user's physiological age; presenting physiological age to the user; determining wellness program options based upon the user's wellness factor data and the transformed data; presenting the wellness program options to the user; selecting wellness program options by the user to form a wellness plan; and calculating the physiological age change that occurs if the user adopts the selected wellness plan.
 23. A method of creating and selecting a wellness program according to claim 22, further comprising allowing the user to select and appraise the potential effects of various wellness plans.
 24. A method of creating and selecting a wellness program according to claim 23, further comprising the user choosing a preferred wellness plan.
 25. A method of creating and selecting a wellness program according to claim 24, further comprising presenting the preferred wellness plan to the user.
 26. A method of creating and selecting a wellness program according to claim 25, further comprising providing the user with further information relating to various aspects of the preferred wellness plan.
 27. A method of creating and selecting a wellness program according to claim 22, wherein data relating to the user's wellness factors comprises information relating to a user's life style, habits, environment, and health, medical, and genetic history.
 28. A method of creating and selecting a wellness program according to claim 22, further comprising determining the change in a user's physiological age.
 29. A method of creating and selecting a wellness program according to claim 24, further comprising presenting the physiological age effect of implementing a chosen wellness plan to the user.
 30. A method of creating and selecting a wellness program according to claim 29, wherein the results of implementing a chosen wellness plan over the short term and the results of implementing a chosen wellness plan over the long term are presented to the user.
 31. A method of creating and selecting a wellness program according to claim 29, wherein the results of implementing a chosen wellness plan for a three month and a three year period are presented to the user.
 32. A method of creating and selecting a wellness program according to claim 29, wherein the results presented are in the form of physiological age.
 33. A method of creating and selecting a wellness program according to claim 22, further comprising:updating information relating to the user's wellness factors at a time after initial inputting of the user's wellness factor data.
 34. A method of creating and selecting a wellness program according to claim 23, further comprising:selecting a new preferred wellness plan after initial selection of the preferred wellness plan.
 35. A method of creating and selecting a wellness program according to claim 22 further comprising the automatic skipping of irrelevant or unnecessary questions.
 36. A method of creating and selecting a wellness program according to claim 22 further comprising determining a composite relative risk based upon the user's wellness factor data.
 37. A method of creating and selecting a wellness program according to claim 22 wherein inputting data relating to the user's wellness factors results from the user responding to a questionnaire.
 38. A method of creating and selecting a wellness program according to claim 22 wherein the determination of the user's physiological age further comprises:processing the user's wellness factors according to stratification rules; determining a relative risk vale for each of the user's wellness factors according to the stratification rules; adjusting the wellness factor relative risk values for covariance; and determining the user's equivalent survival rate and physiological age. 